Program Description

The Erma Byrd Scholarship Program provides scholarships to individuals pursuing a course of study that will lead to a career in industrial health and safety occupations, including mine safety. This program is designed to increase the skilled workforce in these fields at both the fundamental skills level and the advanced skills level. The program has a service obligation component, requiring recipients of the scholarship to be employed in a career position directly related to industrial health and safety, including mine safety, for a period of one year upon completion of the degree program. The selected areas of study are: mining and mineral engineering, industrial engineering, occupational safety and health technology/technician, quality control technology/technician, industrial safety technology/technician, hazardous materials information systems technology/technician, mining technology/technician, and occupational health and industrial hygiene. Scholarship recipients must begin such employment no more than six months after the completion of their degree program.